Trolley-switching mechanism



Aug. 10 1926.

' R..RODRIGUEZ TROLLEY SWITCH ING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 14 1925 RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ, F DES MOINES, IOXVA.

TROLLEY-SlF/I'IUHING FIEGHANISM.

Application filed February An object of this invention is to provide means for switching a trolley or current collector.

A further object of this invention is to provide a switch in an overhead conductor adapted to be operated coincident with a track switch, whereby a trolley or current collector may be passed automatically from a main line to a siding; or branch without independent manipulation thereof.

A further object or this invention is to provide a switch in an overhead conouctor whereby a trolley or current collector may be passed automatically "from a main line to a siding or branch, or vice versa without independent manipulation of the trolley, and an attachment for a switch stand adapted to adjust said switch relative to said main line and operable coincident with a track switch controlled by said switch stand.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan of my improved device as mounted for practical use, the main line being shown in the clear. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same taken from a point across the track 1101'11 the switch stand. Figure 3 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale above the operating parts of the trolley-switching mechanism, a part being broken away to reveal construction. Figure l is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, on the indicated line of Figure 1, dotted lines indicating; a ditierent posi tion of certain parts. Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation showing the trolley switch in operative position relative to the main line overhead conductor. Figure 6 is an enlarged detail vertical section on the indicated line 66 01? Figure 4, showing adjusting means.

In treating of the structure hereinafter set forth, it is assumed that the several overhead eonductors are suitably supplied with electric current adapted to drive the motors of a trolley car located on the track or siding.

The numeral 10 designates generally a tower or frame adapted to be mounted around and rise from a switch stand 11, the latter containing operating mechanism, including a stem 12 and hand lever 13, adapted to move the points 14, 15 of a railway switch 14-, 1925- Serial No. 9,112.

whereby a railway car may be transferred from one to the other of main line tracl: 16 ano siding 17. A main line overhead electrical conductor 18 is shown supported in a common manner above and centrally of the main line track 16. A branch line overhead e ectrical conouc 19 is shown supported in common iner, except to an end thereof, above and centrally ot the siding track 1?. A stander",L 20 is lined to and rises "from the stem 12 and is journaled for oscillation inthe tower or frame 10 and is adapted to be turned on a vertical axis by and. witl the sten when the latter is operated in a common manner by the lever 13 to move the switch points 14:, 15. Fla s 21, 22, p eiterably white and red respectively to corrcsp .-..=.d with lenses in abulls-eye lamp 23 carried by the stand 11, are mounted at ri t angles to each other on the upper end of the standard 20 and, like the lamp, indicate the relative positions of the points in respectoi the main line or siding. A plurality of rods, 2e, and 26, are slidingly mounted sideby side in the same horizontal plane in the upper portion of the tower and said rods are connected rigidly by a spider 27 located within and spaced from the side walls of the tower. The end portions or": the rods adjacent the tracks are bent upwardly and carry horizontal spaced arms 28, 29 and 30 integral therewith, which arms are adapted to extend partially transversely of the switch points 1d, 15 in a horizontal plane above the main line conductor 13. A crank-arm 31 is fixed to and extends laterally from the standard 20 below the central rod 25, within the tower, and a link 32 is pivoted at its ends to and connects said arm and the central portion of said rod. Hence, when the standard 20 is oscillated, the crank-arm 31 and link 32 will reciprocate the spider and rods relative to the tower and move the arms and rods transversely of and relative to the tracks. The outer portions 01": the arms 28, 29 and 30 are angular in cross-section and angular collars 33, 34 and 35 are slidingly mounted thereon and are adapted to be secured in desired adj ustment longitudinally thereof by set screws 36. The collars 33, 3e and 35 are insulated from the arms 28, 29 and 30 by suitable members 37, 38 (Fig. 6) of fiber interposed between them and forming a slide bearing for each arm as well as a clamp for the set screws 36, Vertical openings are termed in the collars 33, B l and adjacent the preferably made of metal of good electrical conductivity such as copper, is lined to and connects the lower ends of the hangers 37, 38 and 39 and is adapted to be supported by said hangers in a horizontal plane slightly lower than that of the adjacent portion of the main line conductor 18. One end portion of the switch point ll is inclined and the opposite end portion thereof is secured, preterably rigidly, to the adjacent end of the siding conductor 19. An offset 43 is formed in each of the hangers 37, 3S and above the switch point ll and opposite thereto, to permit the point d1 to be located adjacent to and below (in the same vertical plane with) the adjacent portion of the main line cond ctor 18. lVhen the main line is in the clear and it is desired to move a car upon the siding, the switch point ll occupies the position shown in Figures 1 and a at one side of and below the main line cond ctor. When the lever mechanism is operated to throw the points l l, 15 to cause the car to take the siding, the switch point 4.1 is moved, by the connecting mechanism into the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 4c, in order that the troiley wheel or current collector may travel from the conductor 18 beneath and in contact with said point If the car is to be moved in the opposite direction, the trolley will move from the point $1 to the conductor 19.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an apparatus of the character described having a track switch, switch stand, operating mechanism therefor, main line and siding conductors, a trolley-sWitching apparatus comprising a support, a standard mounted therein for oscillation on a vertical axis, operative connections between said standard and the operating mechanism of the track switch, spaced rods sliding'ly mounted in said frame and rigidiy connected, operative connections between said standard and rods, arms on said rods adapted to extend at times over and across said main line conductor, and a switch point ca ried by said arms and. fixed to and forming a continuation oi said siding; conductor, said switch point being adjustable longitudinally and laterally of said arms and adapted to be moved thereby laterally of and relative to and below said main line conductor, one end portion of said switch point being inclined upwardly toward the main line conductor, said arms beingoii set to arch around said main line conductor at times.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a trame formed of spaced rods mounted for reciprocation and a spider connecting said rods, end portions of said rods being bent vertically, arms on said bent portions of the rods, collars slidingly mountet on id arms and adapted to be fixed thereto, hangers slidingly mounted in said collars and adapted to be lined thereto, and a switch point fixed to said hangers and adapted to be moved laterally thereby.

RAFAEL RODR GUEZ. 

